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June 4, 2019
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Can I get a deductible for paying someone else's bills?

  • June 4, 2019
  • 1 reply
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I paid for part of my mother's dental surgery - $5000 out of pocket. Additionally, I paid $3000 out of pocket for her property taxes. Are either of these two items eligible for deductibles?
Best answer by KatrinaB48

There is no deduction for the medical bills, unless you can claim your mother as a dependent. However, there is an exception that would allow you to claim the expenses without claiming her as an exemption.

You may claim her as a medical dependent, if you would have qualified to claim her as a dependent but couldn't only because:

  • She had more then $4050 in income in 2016
  • She filed a joint tax return.

Either way, you must also have enough expenses to itemize deductions. In order to claim a deduction for her property taxes, you must be the person responsible for paying them. They would also go onto schedule a as an itemized deduction. Please view the Turbo Tax FAQ below for more information on claiming itemized deductions.

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/tax-tips/Tax-Deductions-and-Credits/Tax-Deduction-Wisdom---Sho...

Please view the Turbo tax FAQ below to determine if you qualify to claim your mother as a dependent.

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/tax-tips/Family/Rules-for-Claiming-a-Dependent-on-Your-Tax-Ret...


[edited 04/08/17]

1 reply

June 4, 2019

There is no deduction for the medical bills, unless you can claim your mother as a dependent. However, there is an exception that would allow you to claim the expenses without claiming her as an exemption.

You may claim her as a medical dependent, if you would have qualified to claim her as a dependent but couldn't only because:

  • She had more then $4050 in income in 2016
  • She filed a joint tax return.

Either way, you must also have enough expenses to itemize deductions. In order to claim a deduction for her property taxes, you must be the person responsible for paying them. They would also go onto schedule a as an itemized deduction. Please view the Turbo Tax FAQ below for more information on claiming itemized deductions.

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/tax-tips/Tax-Deductions-and-Credits/Tax-Deduction-Wisdom---Sho...

Please view the Turbo tax FAQ below to determine if you qualify to claim your mother as a dependent.

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/tax-tips/Family/Rules-for-Claiming-a-Dependent-on-Your-Tax-Ret...


[edited 04/08/17]

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June 4, 2019
I have edited the answer above.
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